The Nature of the Third Floor: Birdy

Currently on display at the Oak Park Public Library is a fine selection of avian related titles available for checkout. And their timing couldn’t be better, as the spring bird migration is in full flight.

Over the weekend E and I saw three different warblers - a Yellow, a few Yellow-Rumps and a Common Yellowthroat - whilst hiking and gardening. We saw these lovely travelers without heroic effort. We are not expert birders, and these were casual sightings. Never mind the little guys, we were also treated to the sight of two Sandhill Cranes on the wing. No binoculars needed there.

If there is a trick here, it’s to keep looking up, and looking sideways. Lots of times these migrants will be feeding in the tree tops, or skittering through the underbrush. Another trick is to bring a friend or two. Four (or more) eyes will help improve your numbers. Anyway, this is a great time to see some amazing visitors, and the library is a fine place to start learning. Who knows, you might get the bird bug, and then only the sky is the limit.